pump priming; cause; impetus; spark
leather boots; rubber boots; wellingtons; wellies; long boots; high boots
to be distracted from feelings of depression, boredom, tension, etc.
acquaintance; friend; familiar face
to decrease (in size or number); to diminish; to abate
energy drink; nutritional supplement drink; vitamin drink
arbor; arbour; suffix forming the final part of the pseudonyms of some writers and performers; suffix forming the final part of the name of a restaurant
garnish (e.g. vegetables with a meat dish); trimmings; fixings; relish
chikuwa; tube-shaped fish paste cake
to give the stamp of approval
to push and push; to keep pushing to the end
(social) position; status
exquisite; superb; perfect; miraculous
flavour; flavor; taste; charm; appeal; interest
great cause; moral law; justice
to go over the top; to act without restraint; to cut loose
to blink (one's eyes); to wink; to bat
to defy accepted norms; to go off the rails; to be eccentric
foreigner; foreign citizen; foreign national; alien; non-Japanese
suicidal act; self-destroying action; suicidal action
flight (e.g. airline flight); trip (e.g. train trip); mail; post; opportunity; chance
level ground; plain; flatland
flood plain; river terrace; riverside area; area between river and river bank
munching; devouring; gobbling up; (arch.) shaggy; (arch.) disheveled; (arch.) unkempt
to compete (with each other); to contend for; to vie for; to rival
advantageous; favourable; better; profitable; lucrative; gainful
to arrive at (e.g. a decision); to reach (a stage); to lead to (a place); to get to; in the extreme case of; (arch.) to come
to pick; to pluck; to snip; to cut; to nip
beauty; good figure; (beautiful) appearance; beautification; beauty treatment; beauty culture
New Year (esp. first three days); first month of the year; January
mochi; (sticky) rice cake
quarrel; brawl; fight; squabble; scuffle; argument
to frown (on); to be grim-faced; to look sullen
(piece of) rope; ordinary method
brambling (bird) (Fringilla montifringilla)